Enough time at Bilbao airport?

Shauna · Jul 1, 2022

We will be arriving at Bilbao airport at 13.55 and the bus leaves at 14.30 to Irun. Enough time to catch it, with Alsa? Any other options?

Former member 49149 · Jul 1, 2022

It sounds tight to me. If you have hand luggage only, and you run through the airport - which you may know is small, and hail a taxi to the bus station - it is about 20 mins on the bus, but that only runs about every 20 mins and if you just miss one...
Another option is Blablacar. You need to explore the website. There are drivers who offer places, and passengers who request them. It is easy enough to navigate. My own experience with them predates Covid. The drivers I have travelled with have a pickup point that you can actually see from the bus station. If you are lucky, a driver might agree to collect you at the airport. Otherwise, you might need to start walking, or wait for the next bus. To Irun.

naplesdon · Jul 2, 2022

I just looked at Rome2Rio, there seems to be alternatives without knowing what date/day of the week you are looking at to make the connection. It lists a Lurraldebus from the airport to San Sebastian with a connection train or bus to Irun several times a day and Alsa buses every 2 hours from the Termibus in Bilbao.

lt56ny · Jul 2, 2022

Shauna said:
We will be arriving at Bilboa airport at 13.55 and the bus leaves at 14.30 to Irun. Enough time to catch it, with Alsa? Any other options?

If you don't have to go through passport control I think you have about 1 in 100 chance of making it depending if the plan is on time, where you are sitting and how long it will take you to deboard and how big the airport is and the location of the stop. Passport control well I would forget about it.

oursonpolaire · Jul 2, 2022

It's not clear to me from your post if the bus you mention is leaving from the airport. If it is, and if your flight is on time, I think you have a good chance of making it. Bilbao airport is very small and my memory recalls a very speedy passport control -- I think that there were two of us in the line... In any case, buses leave the airport for St Sebastian every couple of hours, and the local train from St Sebastian to Irun runs frequently.

Vacajoe · Jul 2, 2022

So lots of questions asked that would help us to answer your question:

- where are you flying from?
- what nationality are you?
- is that bus from the airport or in the city?
- where are you sitting on the plane?

Without knowing all those key elements, the answer is: “it’s impossible to know”

Slowninja · Jul 2, 2022

Shauna said:
We will be arriving at Bilboa airport at 13.55 and the bus leaves at 14.30 to Irun. Enough time to catch it, with Alsa? Any other options?

It sounds a bit tight timewise. Given the state of the travel industry at the moment it only takes a delayed flight or long passport control queue to derail your plans. Suggest having a plan B for your transfer. i.e. later bus

Former member 49149 · Jul 3, 2022

Are you still there, @Shauna? You ought already to have discovered this, but let me be pedantic and include it...

https://www.omio.com/buses/bilbao/irun

Shauna · Jul 3, 2022

kirkie said:
Are you still there, @Shauna? You ought already to have discovered this, but let me be pedantic and include it...

https://www.omio.com/buses/bilbao/irun

Thank you, I will have a look

Shauna · Jul 3, 2022

Vacajoe said:
So lots of questions asked that would help us to answer your question:

- where are you flying from?
- what nationality are you?
- is that bus from the airport or in the city?
- where are you sitting on the plane?

Without knowing all those key elements, the answer is: “it’s impossible to know”

Flying from Leeds Bradford to Bilbao
UK
It would be airport bus
Have not booked flights yet. Thanks

Marbe2 · Jul 3, 2022

Shauna said:
Flying from Leeds Bradford to Bilbao.
UK
It would be airport bus
Have not booked flights yet. Thanks

Another question: is your flight direct? Or are you stopping somewhere else?

I too have flown into Bilbao and the airport is small. However, even if I didn’t check a bag, and I was the first seat on the plane, I wouldn’t count on making that bus, especially if you are making a connecting flight. But if you are feeling lucky, the cost in toto would be circa €20+ by pp you might lose by bus.

Vacajoe · Jul 3, 2022

Shauna said:
Flying from Leeds Bradford to Bilbao.
UK
It would be airport bus
Have not booked flights yet. Thanks

Well, given that, it IS possible but you’d be cutting it very close. We did customs/immigration in 15 minutes (and that included Covid vaccination checks), making it from plane seat to curb in less than 30 minutes back in October 2021. Fortunately, our plane was on time, it was a smaller jet, and we were the only flight that had landed.

I’d still try for a later bus or even stay the night in Bilbao - it’s a great city and they have inexpensive pilgrim albergues! If you do try for this quick connection, definitely sit in the front of the plane, don’t check luggage, and walk very fast to be first to the immigration line.